Nanomedicine & Immune Cell Engineering

Immune cell-based therapies have transformed modern medicine, particularly in oncology, and are now being explored for autoimmune and infectious diseases. Yet, the activity of immune cells such as T cells, NK cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells is often reduced within complex and immunosuppressive microenvironments, especially in solid tumors. This Focus Group investigates how synthetic materials can enhance immune cell functionality in targeted, controllable, and biocompatible ways - complementing or surpassing genetic engineering approaches.

Bridging immunology, materials science, polymer and supramolecular chemistry, biomedical engineering, and systems biology, this interdisciplinary group explores how designed materials can reprogram immune cell behavior. Topics include intracellular self-assembly, biomimetic scaffolds, and stimuli-responsive delivery systems for modulating immune activity in preclinical and human ex vivo models.

By fostering exchange between chemists, material scientists, and immunologists across MPIP, JGU, and the University Medical Center Mainz, the Focus Group enables collaborative research and interdisciplinary training in this emerging frontier. It provides a platform for developing next-generation immunotherapies and for critically discussing challenges in delivery, biocompatibility, and translational potential.

Research Scope

Nano- and biomaterial design: development of polymeric, supramolecular, and hybrid nanomaterials to control immune responses
Intracellular engineering: self-assembling and stimuli-responsive systems for targeted immune cell activation and signaling modulation
Immuno-nanomedicine: nanostructured carriers and scaffolds for immune cell delivery, reprogramming, and in vivo persistence
Mechanistic understanding: studying immune-material interfaces at the molecular, cellular, and systemic level
Data-driven and computational approaches: machine learning and multiscale simulations to optimize material-immune interactions
Translational and clinical integration: bridging synthetic chemistry, immunology, and nanomedicine to accelerate therapeutic development

Focus Group Leaders

Prof. Dr. Tanja Weil

Director, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research

Website of Department of Synthesis of Macromolecules

Prof. Dr. Tobias Bopp

Professor for Molecular Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz

Website of Bopp Group

Prof. Dr. Volker Mailänder

Professor at University Clinic Dermatology, Mainz & Group Leader at Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research

Website of Mailänder Group

Other Focus Group Members

Prof. Dr. Susanne Gerber, Professor of Computational Genomics & Bioinformatics, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Daniela S. Krause, Professor of Hematology, University Medical Center Mainz
Prof. Dr. Stephan Grabbe, Professor of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz
Prof. Dr. Claire Jacob, Professor of Biology, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Luise Florin, Professor of Virology, University Medical Center Mainz
Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Schild, Professor of Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz
Prof. Dr. Andreas Bock, Professor of Pharmacology, University Medical Center Mainz
Prof. Dr. Carsten Sönnichsen, Professor of Chemistry, JGU Mainz
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Charles Imbusch, Junior Professor of Immunology, University Medical Center Mainz
Dr. Toszka Bohn, Research Group Leader, University Medical Center Mainz
Prof. Dr. Pol Besenius, Professor of Chemistry, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Andreas Walther, Professor of Chemistry, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Holger Frey, Professor of Chemistry, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Shikha Dhiman, Professor of Chemistry, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Till Opatz, Professor of Chemistry, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Dorothee Dormann, Professor of Biology, JGU Mainz
Prof. Dr. Katharina Landfester, Director, MPIP
Prof. Dr. Matthias Gaida, Professor of Pathology, University Medical Center Mainz
Dr. Sarah Chagri, Research Group Leader, MPIP
Prof. Dr. Edward Lemke, Professor of Biology, JGU Mainz
Dr. Sandra Schick, Group Leader, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB)
Dr. Oscar Palomino Hernandez, Junior Principal Investigator, JGU Mainz
Dr. Anne Régnier-Vigouroux, Research Group Leader, JGU Mainz
Dr. Maximilian Sprang, Junior Group Leader, University Medical Center Mainz
Dr. Ulrike Kraft, Research Group Leader, MPIP
Prof. Dr. Susanne Gebhard, Professor of Biology, JGU Mainz
Dr. Uladzimir Barayeu, Research Group Leader, MPIP
Dr. Max Haist, Clinician Scientist, University Medical Center Mainz

External Members
Prof. Dr. Maike Windbergs, Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology, Goethe University Frankfurt
Prof. Dr. Ivan Đikić, Professor of Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt
Prof. Dr. Özlem Türeci, Professor of Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz / BioNTech
Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin, Professor of Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz / BioNTech
Dr. Mustafa Diken, Vice-President Vaccines & Immunology, BioNTech / Director of Disease Research Center, TRON